Filton Airfield no longer viable, BAE tells inquiry
FILTON Airfield will close at the end of the year because it is no longer viable, its owners, BAE Systems have insisted.
But a public inquiry heard yesterday that the airfield made a profit last year.
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The Great Western Air Ambulance will stay at Filton
Town planner Ann Bartaby, for the owners, told the hearing at Kingswood Civic Centre: "The work undertaken by us and others demonstrates there is no viable aviation alternative for the future of the site.
"There has been no other interest from any other organisations to take on the airfield as a going concern."
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After she was asked to comment on the fact that the airfield made a profit last year, she replied that it was as a result of a one-off arrangement with Airbus to airlift staff between sites.
Bert Hindle, chairman of the Save Filton Airfield pressure group said BAE Systems had not done enough to make sure the airfield remained a going concern.
He said if the firm had done so, then it would have placed the airfield on the open market.
Ms Bartaby responded by saying that the future of the airfield was hugely sensitive and that if they had put it on the open market, it would have sent out the wrong message to the worldwide aviation industry.
Mr Hindle also criticised South Gloucestershire Council for passively accepting the closure of the airfield and agreeing to the site being used for housing.
He said if a farmer told the council that he could no longer make ends meet, they would not allow him to suddenly start making a profit by building hundreds of houses on green land – the council would have to examine alternative green uses of the land.
Airfield campaigner David Goodwin said one firm moved away from the airfield because it could not be offered a long-term contract to stay.
He added that St Athan's, a former RAF base near Cardiff, had won a lucrative aircraft maintenance contract and several other airfields such as Luton and Cambridge were expanding after investment.
He said that a new museum for Concorde and the aero collection would provide a revenue stream for BAE Systems and cited the ss Great Britain which earnt £2 million a year in visitors' fees.
South Gloucestershire councillors Bill Bowery and Ian Scott argued in favour of keeping the airfield open which they described as a national asset.
Filton Councillor Doug Daniels made an impassioned speech in support of the airfield.
He said he was appalled that other airfields were having to turn away lucrative maintenance and repair contracts away to countries such as Korea yet BAE Systems wanted to close down Filton. He said the area had the workforce and facilities for growth and future prosperity.
â A deal has been done which will see the air ambulance which covers Bristol staying at Filton.
BAE Systems says it will dedicate an area of Filton Airfield to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity after the closure of the airfield in December.
The news comes as the charity behind the air ambulance announced that it will be launching a campaign for a new, faster helicopter next month.
Comments
by Macadam2000
Saturday, November 24 2012, 4:38PM
“I wonder if George will save Filton Airport?”
by Betterway
Thursday, June 28 2012, 9:02AM
“It was the home of Concorde, had the widest runway in the UK, and was the centre of the British Aviation industry for a century. It had potential too - maintenance base, training centre, freight hub. In terms of road and rail links it was unrivaled.
So what went wrong Grandpa? How did it become the congested urban sprawl that is New Charlton.
Well, the company who owned the land, BAE Systems was only interested in short term financial gain. They didn't believe in a long term future for Aerospace in Bristol. South Gloucestershire council stood by and let them destroy our heritage and future commercial prospects. I guess they were more interested in collecting the extra council tax.
Will we be talking like this in 30 years? Come on, have some imagination and Save Filton Aifield!”
by artglad
Saturday, June 23 2012, 12:50AM
“At some stage Bristol is going to have an airport.
Let us hope that the facilities at Filton are mot wasted.”
by Magrathea2011
Friday, June 22 2012, 7:02PM
“@JR, doesnt it bother you in the slightest that 'done deals' can be made at all ?
Perhaps we should return to the feudal system and be done with all this Party nonsense ..... (?)”
by JRumpole
Friday, June 22 2012, 4:54PM
“Its been a done deal even before this saga began...south glos labour are just playing along, stringing along the hopes of the naive...better time spent on other things....remember labour councillors for Filton in 2006 fought tooth and nail to stop a commerical airport for Filton (Hutchinson) with petitions! Now they want to save it...how sad. Did he even speak at the enquiry to defend his town or did his cronies speak for him and kept him in the background..they are covering for him again....”
by RobBradStoke
Friday, June 22 2012, 4:34PM
“Lanata; you mean we bought houses below an under-used flight path.
Turning it into a major airport would bring as much congestion as a new housing estate and what about the noise levels! Few are affected by Bristol International in comparison and the locals down there are very vocal, so imagine the fuss this side of the City....
Unless someone can run a profit making enterprise at the runway, not much chance of retention.”
by Lanata
Friday, June 22 2012, 3:24PM
“"very exceptionally never affected by fog"
I should learn to proof read first - what I meant to say was that Filton Airfield is very exceptionally affected by fog !!”
by Lanata
Friday, June 22 2012, 3:16PM
“@J12345678 - "No the residents voted years ago not to develop Filton "
That would be the same residents who bought their houses under the flight path or near a Airfield that had been in exsistence since 1910 !! I agree with @artglad - perfect location for Bristol International Airport - close to motorways; rail line already there so open up a new station and a major plus very exceptionally never affected by fog !!”
by J12345678
Friday, June 22 2012, 2:08PM
“@artglad
No the residents voted years ago not to develop Filton and then backed up by South Glos. So that's why Bristol Int'l is miles away or N Somerset. Mind you it's closer than some 'local' EasyJet airports so we should be thankful for the inconvenience. That's how Bristol works y'see.”
by artglad
Friday, June 22 2012, 12:26PM
“An ideal location for a genuinely international Bristol airport ?”